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Dave loved the fast deliveryDave C.
★★★★★
Dave loved the fast delivery
My relocation to Chicago was fast, smooth and without any delay thanks to A1 Auto.
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidanceCourtney J.
★★★★★
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidance
Just what you need when trusting someone with your wheels! Kudos to this company!
Jeff enjoyed the fair priceJeff D.
★★★★★
Jeff enjoyed the fair price
Moved my ride hassle-free with these folks.Fair pricing, no surprises. Definitely recommend them!
Maria enjoyed the special care and safetyMaria L.
★★★★★
Maria enjoyed the special care and safety
Huge thanks to the movers – they were meticulous with my car. Love these guys.
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“A1 Auto Transport became synonymous with top-notch service delivery, unfailing punctuality and constantly preoccupied with customer satisfaction.

See Article— USA Today

Auto Transport: Road versus Rail

Published by Joe Webster.

What's in this article?
  1. Road transport
  2. Rail transport
Route Suppression

When shipping a car over a long distance, you look at the options available. Also, you weigh the cost as it must be within your budget. Since a car is one of the possessions you treasure most, you cannot afford to gamble with its safety. Bearing these plus other aspects in mind, you can ship it by road or by train. Both methods will benefit you, but they also have setbacks.

Here’s a look at the two available options:

Road transport

In this mode of shipping, your car moves from its current location to the one specified. You stand to benefit in the following ways:

  • Door-to-door delivery: Depending on your current as well as desired location, road auto shipping could be the only way available. You could be living in an area that is not reachable by sea or rail. Besides, loading a car and unloading it from a trailer is easy.
  • Economical: Road carriage costs are way below those of other modes of transport. This is because the process involved is just picking up your vehicle and taking it directly where it’s needed. There are no other channels in-between.
  • Convenience: Both you and the shipper have the discretion of deciding when the journey commences. Also, if you need an urgent dispatch, you can drive or have someone pick the car from anywhere.

Road shipping also has its downside:

  • Safety: There is the likelihood that your car could get damaged in case of an accident. Or get stolen.
  • Slow: Traffic congestions could affect the expected dispatch time.

A-1 Auto Transport can help you move your household goods nationwide. Call 888-241-3110 to get a free, no obligation to buy price quote on interstate moving services.

Auto Transport Road Versus Rail

Rail transport

The railroad company provides covered or open train carriers and has the following advantages:

  • Protection from the elements: Closed carrier railroad cars keep your vehicle safe from the weather. Your car arrives on the other end with no dirt and with its paintwork intact.
  • Zero wear and tear: Rail transport preserves your car’s lifespan. The less the distance driven, the more value your vehicle retains.
  • Energy efficiency: Trains have reduced carbon emissions as compared to trucks. By having your car shipped by train, you help contribute towards preservation of the environment.

The downside of using this mode of transport includes:

  • Route suppression: Unlike road carriage, trains are only constrained to areas with railroad tracks. You must use other modes of transportation to deliver or retrieve your automobile.
  • Cost: When you include the cost of delivery from a railway yard using a truck, freight train service can be costly.
  • Damage: Cars transported in open carriages usually get damaged especially where the train runs into severe weather such as during hailstorms and heavy snowfalls.

Road haulage is convenient and economical but can compromise on safety and speed. On its part, train transportation protects your car, reduces its wearing out and is friendly to the environment. However, trains are restricted to certain routes only. Besides, you need other modes of shipping to complete the delivery. Cost and efficiency are your best indicators when you must choose between the two.

Rail Transport
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Joe Webster always knew the auto transport industry would be a great career option. And with decades of experience, Joe is now an established consultant for A1 Auto Transport.

Joe was born in Santa Cruz, California. During high school, Joe worked as a mechanic; a job continued to work part-time during his bachelor's degree.

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Mylene Rutllant
It’s my number one pick in auto shipping to this day.
★★★★★

...my choice in terms of auto transport has to be A1 Auto Transport. It’s in the name, but also in the quality with which they do their jobs. I’ve never had a problem with this company.

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Luis Rodriguez
You have my full support and recommendation!
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A1 Auto Transport... From the get go, they were very different from my past options. Their website was very professional and up to date, full of useful information. I requested a quote using their online form, and I got an email response within an hour. Surprisingly fast!

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Cristine Benoit
I can safely say this is a legit company that will get the job done.
★★★★★

There are a lot of options for auto transport these days, which surprisingly makes it harder to find a good company. I received more than 10 offers to ship my car, but I couldn’t decide on any of them... Fortunately, I made the right choice with A1 Auto Transport.

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David Osallo
We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10!
★★★★★

We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10! We chose them to move our car from California to Vermont, since we needed professionals.

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A-1 Auto Transport is a disclosed agent for the following shipping companies:

CSI Logistics
435 Division Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
FMC 22206
Intl Cargo
45 Campus Drive
Edison, NJ 08837
NO. 17858N
Trans Global Auto Logistics, Inc.
3401 E Randol Mill Rd,
Arlington, TX 76011
NO. 018191NF
CFR Rinkens
15501 Texaco Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
NO. 013055NF
ABC Worldwide LLC
2840 NW 2nd Ave #105
Boca Raton, FL 33431
NO. 025472F
ShipYourCarNow LLC
1160 South Rogers Circle Suite 1
Boca Raton, FL 33487
NO. 025646
Merco Air & Ocean Cargo, Inc.
6 Fir Way
Cooper City, FL 33026
NO. 021869F
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